Stringing pianos



C. S. WEBER.

- STRINGING PIANOS. NO. 482,512. Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. WEBER, OF SAN J OS, OALIFORNIA.

STRINGING PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,512, datedSeptember 13, 1892.

Application filed February 2, 1892. Serial NO. 420,113. (NO model.)

.T0 all whomz it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHARLES S. WEBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Jos, county of Santa Clara, State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Stringing Pianos; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact descriptionthereof, which will enable those skillcd in the art to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification.

Figure l is a detail view showing the application of the invention, thepin being defiected by means of a binding-screw. Fig. 2 is a detail viewof a modification, showing a Straight pin deflected by means of a curvedhole i11 the plate. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a further modification,showing a curved pin deflected by means of a Straight hole in the plate.

The Object of my invention is to increase the tone-keeping quality inpianos by substitutingiron or other suitable metal for the wood used inkeeping the tuning-pins in position.

In this improved construction the pin-holes in the proper metal plateare drilled to a diameter fully as large as that of the pin. To steadythis latter, I have recourse to the elastic force with which the pintends to resulne its original form when bent Within the limits of itselasticity. The bend in the pin is produced either by means of thefriction-regu- ]ator or by means of a curved pin-hole.

The first device consists merely of a screw so placed as to pressagainst the round end of the pin, which for this purpose is left toproject from the plate containing the pillholes. By augmenting thepressure of the screw the pin is bent and asection of :it forced to actas a spring, which-presses constantly against the inner surface of thepin -hole. This pressure causes in the pin a certain degree ofresistance against being turned around. The proper degree can be easilyobtained by means of a few turns of the screw. This latter moves in athreaded hole drilled in a projecting piece of lnetal well secured tothe plate above mentioned. To prevent the pin slipping over the end ofthe screw, an intermediary piece is placed between the two, grooved tofit to the pin on one side and on the other to receive the point of thescrew.

The second device produces the same result Vin a far sinlpler way andadlnits a considerable reduction in the cost of a piano, as by simplythickening that part of the plate which in the modern constructionusually shields the wrest-plank and by boring the pin-holes with theproper curve in that reinforced plate the entire cost of the Wrest-plankis saved. A greater advantage than that in cost results from thecircumstance that pins thus secured will not be loosened, even ifsubjected to the driest air-currents. They will also resist a far longerwear and more careless handling than those secured in Wood. Anotherversion of this second device is to force bent pins into a Straightpin-hole. IVhile it is possible to use this method successfully, theformer is preferable.

In conclusion it may be stated that in highpriced instruments, where theadditional cost of the friction-screw would not be a consideration, thisdevice might be colnbined with the second and used for taking up theWear which in time might result from often-repeated tuning, especiallyat the end points (openings) of the curved hole on the conveX side ofthe pin.

Having thus described my invention, what I clailn as new, and desil'e tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stringed musical instrument., the combination, witll a metalplate having a pilihole, of a tuning-pin inserted in the said pinholeand bent from a normal position to create a frictional binding of thesaid pin in the pin-hole, substantially as set forth.

2. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination, with a metal platehaving a pinopening and a tuning-pin inserted in the said opening, of aset-screw constructed to bear laterally on the said tuning-pin to bendthe same from a norlnal position, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In a stringed musical instrument, the combination, with a metal platehaving a pinopening and a tuning-pin inserted in the said opening, of aset-screw constructed to bear laterally on the said tuning-pin and ashoe interposed between the said set-screw and the tuning-pin,substantially as specified.

CHARLES S. VEBER.

Attest:

V. B. IIILLYARD, L. M. HILLYARD.

IOO

